President Trump unleashed a sharp critique of ABC and NBC News late Sunday night, accusing them of relentless bias against him and suggesting their licenses should face scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission. His words, posted in a flurry of frustration, have reignited debates about media fairness and government overreach.

According to The New York Post, Trump claimed that a staggering 97% of stories from these networks paint him in a negative light. He didn’t provide a source for this figure, though a Media Research Center study from earlier this year pegged coverage of his first 100 days at 92% unfavorable.

Trump’s posts, often marked by his signature all-caps style, declared, “IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.” This assertion, while bold, sidesteps the messy reality that bias is subjective, and punishing networks for perceived slights risks trampling on free speech protections that even conservatives hold dear.

License Revocation: A Legal Minefield

Delving deeper, Trump insisted he’d be “totally in favor” of the FCC pulling licenses, branding the outlets as “so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy.” Such a stance might rally those fed up with mainstream media, but it ignores the hard truth that content-based retaliation clashes with First Amendment safeguards.

He doubled down, labeling ABC and NBC as “FAKE NEWS” and “two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the world.” While the frustration resonates with many who distrust corporate media, the idea of revoking licenses feels more like a symbolic jab than a feasible policy.

Trump also questioned why these networks aren’t shelling out millions in license fees for using “the most valuable airwaves.” Yet, national networks like ABC and NBC don’t hold FCC licenses for news content; their local affiliates do, making his proposal a misfire on technical grounds alone.

Fees and Fairness Under Scrutiny

In a further jab, Trump demanded they “pay up BIG” for the privilege of broadcasting or risk losing their licenses over “unfair coverage of Republicans and/or Conservatives.” It’s a fiery call, but Congress, not the president, controls such fees, which are funneled to the U.S. Treasury, not wielded as political weapons.

He capped his rant with a sharp line: “Crooked ‘journalism’ should not be rewarded, it should be terminated!!!” The sentiment strikes a chord with those who see media as a partisan machine, though the practicality of “terminating” journalism remains a fantasy far from legal reality.

Fox News Digital reached out to ABC and NBC for comment, but the networks’ silence so far speaks volumes. Their local affiliates, bound by FCC regulations and fees based on market size, operate under a system Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t fully grapple with.

History of Clashes with Media Giants

This isn’t Trump’s first rodeo with broadcast giants, having tangled with ABC last year in a defamation suit settled for $15 million. His past as host of “The Apprentice” on NBC adds a layer of irony to his current disdain for the network.

Earlier this year, Paramount Global and CBS also settled with Trump over an election interference lawsuit. These legal battles show a pattern of holding media accountable through courts, a far cry from the license-revoking thunder he’s now threatening.

Any push to strip licenses over perceived bias would likely crumble under judicial review, as past attempts have been slapped down for violating free speech. Trump’s frustration may be palpable, but the Constitution isn’t swayed by late-night posts.

A Broader Fight for Media Accountability

Trump’s latest salvo taps into a deep well of distrust many Americans feel toward corporate news outlets. While his solutions may overstep legal bounds, the underlying grievance about one-sided reporting isn’t easily dismissed by those who crave balance.

Still, wielding the FCC as a cudgel against bias risks setting a precedent that could backfire on dissenting voices of all stripes. If media can be silenced for “unfairness,” the definition of fair becomes a dangerous political football.

In the end, Trump’s words stir a necessary debate about media power, even if his proposed fix misses the mark. The real battle lies in fostering trust through transparency, not in tearing down licenses with a wave of executive spite.